Recovery following a major disaster is not simply about rebuilding what was lost; it is the process of building a new future. A considerable amount of time has passed since the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake that struck on New Year’s Day, and the affected areas have begun shifting their focus from reconstruction to recovery. What the Noto Peninsula needs now is for everyone to come together to build a sustainable future for the region while also tackling the other challenges it faces, including a declining population, labor shortages, and the revitalization of its regional economy. 

ProboNoto: Unleashing the power of corporate collaboration

Currently, the spotlight is on pro bono activities drawing on corporate expertise. NEC is taking part in “ProboNoto,” a project in which LY Corporation is developing a pro bono support platform in collaboration with the Noto Public-Private Partnership Recovery Center to assist with recovery efforts on the Noto Peninsula(*).

What sets this project apart is that participating companies are not acting alone, but rather working in collaboration. In this way, new insights and approaches are emerging as these companies bring together not only their respective expertise and skills but also their approaches to tackling challenges and their organizational cultures.

On May 12, 2026, a progress report meeting for the ProboNoto project was held online, with approximately 110 employees from participating companies attending virtually. In addition to sharing information on the present situation on the Noto Peninsula, pro bono members from each company presented their practical experiences and lessons learned from their front-line activities, creating an opportunity to share knowledge and transcend corporate boundaries.

Creating enduring value

From October 2025 to February 2026, NEC’s pro bono members worked together with LY Corporation on the Noto Reclaimed Wood Rescue Project, supporting the development of a system for managing reclaimed wood to pass on memories from homes devastated in the disaster to the next generation.

Project members focused on more than just developing a system. Their priority was to create something that could continue to be used on the front lines. 

To achieve this, project members focused on seeing this system all the way through from the implementation stage to the operation stage by engaging in activities like the following.

These efforts led to the creation of a system that can be utilized continuously.

Below is a sampling of feedback received from participating project members.

“We were able to contribute to this project in ways no one else could by leveraging our skills as engineers”

“I was amazed by how powerful each company was, and found even the cultural differences to be a nice change of pace. Above all, it was a fun experience.”

“Learning about other companies’ frameworks while working on this project made it a truly valuable learning experience for me.”

The various insights gained through collaboration between the companies involved in this project helped improve the quality of support provided.

A system designed to “connect” support

Following the progress report meeting, members from participating companies took part in a discussion session.

This discussion made it clear that those on the front lines of this support initiative and the companies involved in it were not on the same page.

Participants on the front lines: “We don’t know how to request support”
Participants on the corporate side: “It is difficult to clearly articulate needs and turn them into projects.”

To remedy this, NEC proposed a support model created by support members (PMO).

The proposed model was designed to create a seamless process integrating the steps listed below:
Identifying needs → Articulating challenges → Formulating projects → Building teams → Providing hands-on support

As a result, the points of entry for participation in pro bono activities can now be clearly defined, and a system allowing more interested parties to get involved can be achieved.

Behind this model’s success is NEC’s track record in the pro bono realm. In 2010, NEC became the first company in Japan to launch a pro bono program. Then, in 2020, it established the NEC Pro Bono Club. By systematizing project management and PMO functions, NEC has made it possible to effectively manage multiple projects at once. The knowledge gained through all of this is now being put to good use in this initiative.

It is also crucial to improve IT literacy and develop a communication infrastructure. Greater independence for those on the front lines is being achieved through the use of online meetings, chat, business tools, generative AI, and more. Meanwhile, another strength of this initiative is that support programs can be launched quickly by combining the respective expertise of participating companies.

Working together to create a sustainable society

NEC is a company whose Purpose is to “create the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential.”

The efforts made to develop the ProboNoto platform embody this Purpose, which has been put into practice on the front lines of recovery on the Noto Peninsula. Connections were forged between companies, their collective knowledge was combined, and a system that will endure in society was developed. Amidst all this, NEC took on the roles of designing the project, providing hands-on support, and making it sustainable. Recovery can be described as the process of creating the future. Through its pro bono activities, NEC will continue to embrace new challenges as it works toward achieving a sustainable society.

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In 2010, NEC became the first company in Japan to launch a pro bono program. 
A decade later, in 2020, employee volunteers from the NEC Group established the NEC Pro Bono Club, a pro bono community helping to address challenges faced by local communities, NGOs, NPOs, educational institutions, and others. Today, the NEC Pro Bono Club comprises approximately 900 employees.